Other drug treatments for cancer include immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Immunotherapy uses substances that encourage the body’s own natural defences (immune system) to fight disease. Targeted therapy attacks specific features of cancer cells to stop the cancer growing and spreading.
Side effects of immunotherapy and targeted therapy
Side effects for these treatments vary depending on the particular drug that is used, but can include swelling, weight gain, fatigue, pain, and depression, all of which may affect your desire for or ability to have sex. Your doctor will explain if you need to use protection during sex after having these therapies.
For more on this, see Immunotherapy and Targeted therapy.
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Helena Green, Clinical Sexologist and Counsellor, inSync for Life, WA; Anita Brown-Major, Occupational Therapist, Thrive Rehab, VIC; Karina Campbell, Consumer; Nicole Kinnane, Nurse Consultant, Gynae-oncology Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Headway Health and Concord Hospital, NSW; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Kath Schubach, Urology Nurse Practitioner, President – Australia and New Zealand Urological Nurses Society (ANZUNS), VIC; Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Health Psychology, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW; Maria Voukelatos, Consumer. We would like to thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
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Sexuality, intimacy and cancer – PDF download
Learn more about how cancer affects sexuality, intimacy and cancer in this downloadable fact sheet